Ball-playing, exercising, and practising apparatus.



H. R. & W. R. MEYERS. BALL PLAYING, EXERCISING, AND PRACTISING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FIL ED DEC. 26.1914. 7 v I PaientedSept'7,19l5,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

wwwmmmmw -i K: I I5 E w INVENTORS 1 4? WITNES SES By A tiorncys,

H. R. & w. R. MEYERS.

BALL PLAYING, EXERClSING, AND PRACTISING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEC.26. I914.

1,152,748. Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fi e I J iwgvENToRs WIT/NESSES; wV- *jf W By Aiiorzcys,

snare r HARRY R. MEYERS AND WILLIAM R. MEYERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BALL-PLAYING, EXERCISING, AND PRACTISING APPARATUS.

mamas.

Specification of Letters Patent;

PatentedSeptUK19t5.

Application filed December 26, 1914. Serial No. 879,124.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HARRY R. MEYERS and WILLIAM R. MEYERS, both citizens of the United States of America, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-Playing, Exercising, and Practising Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ball playing apparatus, and aims to provide improvements therein. I g

The apparatus serves for purposes of amusement, pleasure, exercise, practice, and contests of skill.

The invention is based upon the game of baseball, and provides a device whereby persons may obtain exercise, amusement and practice, and whereby persons can measure or test their relative skill and ability in pitching. Means are preferably combined with the apparatus for registering the results of the pitching.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment viewed from the front; and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section, the line of section being generally indicated by the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 designates a plate (corresponding to the home plate or base in the game of baseball). Behind the plate is a target 2, preferably in the form of the figure of a catcher located substantially in the catchers position and in the attitude of a catcher about to receive a ball. Preferably, a greater or less portion of the body of the catcher is hollow and open at the front, forming a cavity 3 in the body of. the figure and the entrance to this cavity substantially corresponds to the area in which a pitched ball must enter to constitute a strike. The openin may be in the shape of a chest protector. The surface 4 at the rear of the cavity is preferably made so as to cushion the impact of balls striking thereagainst. The cushion maybe formed of a pad stuffed with hair or the like, or in other suitable manner. The pad is preferably ribbed, in the manner of a chest protector, so that when the figure is viewedfrom the front, at a distance, the illusion of a normal figure is carried out. The cushion is preferably such as to prevent balls strikmg thereagainst from rebounding out of the cavity. The cavity is, furthermore, preferably provided at its lowest point with a chute 5 adapted to carry off the balls striking in the cavity.

The plate and figureof the catcher is preferably surrounded by a cage or screen 7. The cage or screen preferably surrounds the plate and the figure of the catcher on three sides and on the top and provides a stop for balls which fail to hit the target. The front side is open. The ground or fioor surface inside of the cage and around the plate is preferably dished, forming a bowl 8 and the figure of the catcher is illustrated as located in this bowl. Pitched balls striking outside of the cavity 3 in the figure of the catcher and against the sides or netting of the cage, will rebound and fall into the bowl. An outlet 9 is preferably provided for carrying off the balls falling into the bowl.

A figure of a batter, 10, may be arranged alongside ofthe plate. The figure of the batter adds to the realism of the-apparatus and its use. It may further have a function in the game by constituting an object, which, if struck, counts as a penalty against the pitcher.

The figures of the batter and catcher are preferably so formed as to deaden the rebound whena pitched ball strikes one or other of the figures. The figures may be padded, as indicated at 11, Fig. 1. I

Chutes 12 and 13 are preferably provided, in conjunction with the chute 5 and outlet 9, for returning the pitched balls to the pitchers position in front of the plate. Means are also preferably provided for automatically registering the balls which strike inside of the cavity 3 in the figure of the catcher, and those which strike outside of the cavity, the balls striking inside of the cavity being counted as strikes, and those striking outside of the cavity being counted as balls. The registering means may con-' veniently beconstituted by bucket Wheels 15 and 16, one arranged between the chute 5 and chute 12, and the other arranged between the outlet 9 in the bowl and the chute 13. In connection with each bucket wheel are indicating devices illustrated as enumerator disks 17 and 18, connected to the bucket'wheels by systems of belts and pulleys, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24,. A ballfalling into one of the bucket wheels is adapted to actuate the bucket wheel to such an extent that the number registered by the enumerator is increased by one digit through a certain cycle. Any other suitable form of indicating mechanism may, however, be employed.

In use, the user or player stands in front of the plate, preferably at the regulation distance, and throws toward the plate. The pitcher endeavors to throw the balls over the plate within certain vertical limits, which may usually be fiXed as the height of the shoulders and knees of the batter. Balls passing over the plate within the prescribed vertical limits will enter the cavity in the figure of the catcher, and will count as strikes. The balls entering the cavity of the catcher may pass out through the chute 5, and actuate the registering device (through the mechanism, shown or other suitable mechanism) to register successively, 1, :2, or 3 strikes. Balls which do not strike within the cavity 3 in the figure of the catcher, will count as balls. Balls striking against the cage will fall back into the bowl, and may pass out through the opening 9, and may actuate a registering mechanism, registering successively 1, 2, 3 and 4: balls.

In using the device as a game, the player is usually supplied with seven balls. The player may receive credit or prizes for a strike-out or a series of strike-outs.

Changes and modifications may be made in the embodiment, as specifically illustrated and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a figure representing a catcher having a cavity for receiving pitched balls, the entrance to which substantially corresponds to the area for a strike, a conduit communicating with said cavity and adapted to return balls entering said cavity to the pitchers position, a visual indicator and indicator operating means located in said conduit and adapted to be operated by a ball entering said cavity for indicating the balls received by said cavity, a bowl adapted to collect balls that pass outside the boundaries of said cavity and a conduit for returning said balls, the figure of the catcher being located within said bowl.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a target representing the figure of a catcher provided with a cavity for receiving pitched balls, a cage surrounding said figure on both sides, back and top, and spaced therefrom, a bowl in which said figure stands, indicators for indicating balls and strikes located in a prominent position to be easily seen from the pitchers position,

and means operated by a pitched ball adapted to register upon the strike indicator for a ball entering said cavity, and means adapted to register upon the ball indicator for a ball which fails to enter said cavity.

3. A device of the character described,-

comprising a figure representing a catcher provided with a cavity for receiving pitched balls, the entrance to which corresponds substantially to the area for a strike, indicators for indicating balls and strikes displayed in a location so as to be easily seen from the pitchers position, a stop for pitched balls which fail to hit the target, inclosing the catcher on both sides and the back, a conduit for returning balls and a conduit for returning strikes, and means'in the strike conduit operated by a pitched ball adapted to register upon the strike indicator for a ball entering said cavity, and means in the ball conduit adapted to register upon the ball indicator for a ball which fails to enter said cavity.

4. A device of the character described, comprislng a target provided with a cavity for receiving pitched balls, the entrance to which corresponds substantially to the area for a strike, an indicator for indicating strikes, a return ball conduit communicating with said cavity, and a bucket wheel adapted to be turned by a ball after entering said cavity for operating said strike indicator.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a target provided with a cavity for receiving pitched balls, the entrance to which corresponds substantially to the area for a strike, an indicator for indicating strikes and an indicator for indicating balls, a return ball conduit, a connection between said cavity and said conduit, a stop for the balls which fail to hit the target, said indicators located near the top of said stop so as to be easily seen from the pitchers position, a bowl adapted to receive all balls which fail to enter the cavity, a second conduit for returning said last mentioned balls, a connection between the same and said bowl, and a device operated by a ball which passes from said bowl for actuating the ball indicator, and a device operated by a ball which enters the cavity for actuating the strike indicator.

6. In a device of the character described, the figure of a catcher occupying the catchers position, provided with a strike space, a stop for balls which miss the figure, a visual indicator for strikes prominently displayed near the top of said stop and actuating devices therefor operated by balls which hit the strike space, and an indicator for balls and actuating devices therefor operated by balls which miss the strike space, a bowl for receiving the balls which hit the stop, said figure of a catcher being located in said bowl, and a return conduit for said balls communicating with said bowl.

7. In a device of the character described, a figure of a catcher occupying the catchers position, having a cavity, the entrance to which substantially corresponds to the area weaves for a strike, a pad for the rear wall of said cavity, said cavity forming a reservoir to receive strike balls, a conduit for returning balls entering said cavity, and a strike indicator, and indicator operating means located in said conduit and operated by balls which enter said reservoir, said device having a passage connecting said reservoir and conduit, a stop inclosing said figure on both sides and the back and adapted to stop balls which fail to enter the cavity.

8. In a device of the character described, a figureof a catcher occupying the catchers position, having a cavity, the entrance to which substantially corresponds to the area for a strike, a pad for the rear Wall of said cavity, said cavity forming a reservoir to receive strike balls, a conduit for returning balls entering said cavity, and a strike indicator operated by balls which enter said reservoir, said device having a passage con necting said reservoir and conduit, a stop separated from said figure but inclosing the same on both sides. and the back for balls missing said cavity, a collector for said last mentioned balls, and means for returning them.

9. A device of the character described, comprising a cage closed at the back, both sides and top, a figure resembling a catcher having a cavity for receiving pitched balls, and located in said cage, a bowl for collecting balls which hit the cage, an indicator operated by balls which enter said cavity, and means forreturning each of said balls.

10. A device of the character described comprising a figure representing a catcher.

having a cavity for receiving pitched balls the entrance to which substantially corresponds to the area for a strike, a figure representing a batter in position to hit a pitched ball, a stop inclosing the said figures on both sides and the back and spaced apart therefrom, means for collecting balls which enter the cavity and returning them to the pitchers position and means for collecting balls which fail to enter the cavity and similarly returning them.

11. A device of the character described comprising a figure representing a batter in position to hit a pitched ball, a figure representing a catcher in the catchers position provided with a cavity for receiving pitched balls, a stop inclosing the said figures on both sides and the back, and adapted to stop balls which fail to enter the cavity, a bowl in which the said figures are stationed, a conduit for returning balls which enter the cavity and a conduit for returning balls which fall in the bowl, and an indicator located in a prominent position and adapted to indicate balls which enter the cavity and an indicator located in a like position and fidapted to indicate balls which fall in the In Witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY R. MEYERS. WILLIAM R. MEYERS.

Witnesses:

GUSTAVE R. THOMPSON, FRED WHITE. 

